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Glaucoma Risk Factors

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Risk factors Certain factors can increase the risk for developing glaucoma. They include: • Age—people over age 60 are at increased risk for the disease. For African Americans, however, the increase in risk begins after age 40. The risk of developing glaucoma increases slightly with each year of age. • Race—African Americans are significantly more likely to get glaucoma than are Caucasians, and they are much more likely to suffer permanent vision loss as a result. People of Asian descent are at higher risk of angle-closure glaucoma and those of Japanese descent are more prone to low-tension glaucoma. • Family history of glaucoma—having a family history of glaucoma increases the risk of developing glaucoma. • Medical conditions—some studies

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